The business of Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) alumnus and entrepreneur James McPherson has soared to new heights with the support of two SWEF enterprise grants from the Dorset Community Foundation.
James, who graduated from BA (Hons) Visual Effects (VFX) for Film and Television earlier this year, secured his first round of funding for his business, JM Cinematics, back in 2023 to purchase his first drone.
“I started working with drones when they were still newish in 2021 while I was studying," explains James. "I took a gap year after COVID (2021–22) and was on Universal Credit that year. In one of my meetings with them, it was suggested that I look into The SAMEE Charity. The charity helps anyone with business mentoring and support and they specialise in support for those who have a disability, either mental or physical. I told them I had been diagnosed with autism.
“I decided I wanted to start my own business while I was still at university. So, I asked my business mentor at SAMEE, Stuart Knight, if he knew of any available funding and he pointed me in the direction of SWEF.”
SWEF is a business that provides financial support of up to £2,000 to individuals between the ages of 18 and 30.
“Stuart helped me apply for the funding and helped me develop a comprehensive business plan, cashflow forecast, and presentation to demonstrate the impact a drone would have on my business," James says.
“It wasn't an easy journey, and I faced several challenges along the way, so I was thrilled to learn I’d been successful. I received a total of £859, which completely transformed my business and enabled me to acquire a DJI Mini 3 RC Pro – an essential tool for my drone work.
“Following this, I quickly secured my first client, a renewable installer, who hired me to capture content from their case studies. It was a struggle at times, juggling the demands of full-time study and starting my own business, and I did fall behind in my studies at one point. It was then that I decided to sacrifice my leisure time and not my study time to work on my business. And it’s paid off; now I’ve graduated, I’m going straight into working for myself in my own established business.”
JM Cinematics now offers professional photography, videography, and drone solutions providing aerial footage, 3D mapping, roof inspections, and event coverage.
“I applied for a second SWEF grant in April 2024 to acquire a new VFX PC capable of efficiently editing and exporting videos up to 12K, as well as rendering in VFX programmes like Houdini and Nuke [...] I was fortunate enough to be successful again and received a grant of £1,141.
“Since securing that grant, I’ve been busy organising meetings with different businesses around Dorset. I'm also looking at doing photogrammetry and 3D mapping with my drone, as that’s a popular service highly requested by many trade companies, safety boards, and insurance loss adjusters. Since the BA (Hons) VFX course taught how to do photogrammetry for smaller 3D assets, the same principle applies to larger buildings."
James says that his degree from AUB, the support from SAMEE, and the two grants have been instrumental in the success of his business.
"It’s a great feeling to have finished my degree, and to not only leave with such valuable skills but also with a fully fledged business. I feel like I’ve got a head start and I’m ready to hit the ground running. I’m really looking forward to starting this next chapter of my life and seeing what happens next!"
